Cody Snavely
The 2024 MLB season is less than three weeks away when pitchers and catchers report to camp on February 9th. One name to watch this spring is right-handed pitcher Dustin May. May, who missed almost all of 2023 due to flexor tendon surgery, is taking the first steps in his return to the mound.
When can we expect Dustin May back?
Dustin May, in 2023, was poised to be a huge part of the Dodgers rotation, and he got off to a great start, going 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA in 48 innings. However, May would soon feel elbow/forearm pain that would eventually end his season as he would need flexor tendon surgery along with a touch-up on his previous Tommy John Surgery that he had in 2022.
May missed nearly the entire 2022 season recovering from his first Tommy John Surgery, making his debut late in the season. May would prove himself enough to make the postseason roster but did not appear in the NLDS against the Padres. Dustin May would crack the Opening Day starting rotation for the Dodgers starting game two of the season behind Julio Urias. Dustin May had surgery on his right elbow on July 18th, officially ending his 2023 campaign.
With May now beginning his throwing program this spring, expect over the next few months for him to ramp up his throwing from flat ground to the mound. The Dodgers, however, will likely take things slow for May as they did with Walker Buehler. Both May and Buhler are coming off two Tommy John Surgeries. The earliest possible return for May is likely after the All-Star break, but I imagine the Dodgers will push his return to August or September.
What will Dustin May’s role be?
If Dustin May returns down the stretch in 2024, the Dodgers must ask themselves whether May will be a starter or a reliever. While many fans have already answered this question for themselves, stating many times that he is better suited for the bullpen, I think the Dodgers will still view him as a starter upon his return. If Dustin May does return in 2024, I could see the Dodgers using him as a starter/opener role to help eat innings as the team pushes to the postseason. However, when the postseason does arrive, we could see him back in the bullpen as a hybrid starter and reliever, like in 2020.
If the Dodgers decide to use May strictly in the bullpen, he would be a tremendous high-leverage/set-up option for the later half of the game. Anyone who has watched Dustin May pitch knows how nasty his sinker/slider combination is, and adding he throws 98-100mph would be massive for the Dodgers. Another option for May is being used to piggyback for a starter, taking the bulk of the innings after the 3rd inning.
I think May’s talent would be wasted permanently in the bullpen, but that scenario makes the most sense in 2024. Once May has a healthy (fingers crossed) offseason, May could revert to the starting rotation. But for 2024, I imagine they go the same route as 2020/2023 for the flamethrowing right-hander.
